A Dog’s Courage (A Dog’s Way Home Book 2)
W. Bruce Cameron
Forge Pub
May 4th, 2021
A Dog’s Courage by W. Bruce Cameron is a gripping sequel to A Dog’s Way Home. In both books the dog, Bella, becomes lost and must find her way back to her human family. She struggles to survive in the same manner as the animals in the classic book Homeward Bound. Anyone who has a dog will appreciate how the author has people seeing the world through a dog’s eyes, putting words for their feeling and thoughts.
This book begins with a weekend camping trip taken by Bella and her human companions, Lucas, and Olivia. But it becomes a harrowing struggle to survive when the Rocky Mountains are engulfed by a horrific wildfire. Unexpectedly, Bella finds herself separated from her humans, but reunited with old friends.
Big Kitten, and her two cubs, Girl Kitten and Boy Kitten, form a pack with Bella to survive. Bella became friends with Big Kitten in the previous book and is now an “aunt” to Girl Kitten and Boy Kitten. They are cooperating toward a common goal of staying safe and helping Bella “Go Home.”
This story is heartwarming, exciting, and adventurous. It explores the meaning of family and loyalty. Taking a journey with Bella readers will be on the edge of their seats.
Elise Cooper: This is a sequel?
W. Bruce Cameron: I like sequels. By the time I worked my way through writing an entire novel I know the characters and their growth. I wondered what would happen next. I decided to bring the character’s back from the previous book, A Dog’s Way Home.
EC: Why the fire?
WBC: When I was in Colorado researching, a huge fire started called the “Cameron Camp Fire,” that had nothing to do with me. It was out of control, affecting the air, terrain, and the animals. This confirmed to me what I wrote in the book was correct. Reality encroached into the writing of this book.
EC: How would you describe Bella?
WBC: Accepting, a big heart, and devoted. She was lost in the woods for a couple of years. Her strongest suit as a canine is her loyalty. For her characteristics I was influenced by the dog who played her in the movie named Shelby. I think she is part pit bull and coonhound, about 5 to 6 years old.
EC: Do you have any dogs?
WBC: A scruffy little guy named Tucker who is ten years old. He is a silly looking terrier, maybe beagle, and has poodle fur. Tucker communicates with me via email because he is too old for texting. (LOL) I love taking Tucker to the dog park to see the optimistic interaction between the dogs. It is a fun and joyful experience and helps me write from a dog’s point of view.
EC: You do what a lot of dog owners have done, put words in a dog’s mouth?
WBC: Bella is the narrator of the story. This is what I am known for, the point of view of a dog. This is my specialty. All my children’s books are told from a dog’s point of view. I like writing novels from a dog’s perspective.
EC: Were you influenced by any of the classic dog stories?
WBC: I never want to write a book like Old Yeller. I was so angry at my dad for letting me read this book. When I set out to write the first book in the series, I reread The Incredible Journey. It felt like a slow read that had a checklist of species living in the areas. It was influential in that it road-mapped for me the wrong approach.
EC: Is Olivia a do-gooder?
WBC: I do not like that connotation. I think she is a person who wants to do good. In this book, a fireman described her as a warrior because she wants to do everything possible to save the animal shelter from the fire. She does what she thinks is right even at huge personal risk.
EC: There is a sad scene where animals are deserted by their owners?
WBC: I am involved with animal rescue. We will show up after a natural disaster because there are always so many abandoned animals. I would never do that, and I would never leave Tucker behind. My wife comes from the Cape Cod area. People there would adopt puppies at the start of the summer when they arrive, and when they would go back home, they would leave the dogs.
EC: Can you give a heads up about your next books?
WBC: The children’s book, Cooper’s Story comes out June 1st. It is about a dog adopted by a boy in a wheelchair. He wants to train Cooper to be a service dog.
The adult book, A Dog’s Diary, comes out next May. It has more humor in it than my other books.
THANK YOU!!
